Alt-pop artist Rynn has always been driven to create music that speaks to her. Whether it meant frustrating her piano teacher by refusing to play what she was told to, double-majoring in Music Business and Songwriting in college to further her career, or bearing her soul on her most recent singles, “Tokyo” and “In My Head,” Rynn strives to write meaningful, impactful music.
Since the release of her Nightfires EP in 2016, Rynn has been hard at work on new music and is getting ready to share even more with listeners before the year is up. Until then, you can get to know a little bit more about her and listen to her latest single, “In My Head” now below.
Interview by Shannon Shumaker
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself for anyone who might be hearing you for the first time?
I grew up in Canton, Ohio but currently live in Los Angeles by way of Nashville. If I could be a color it would be lavender. Unicorns are my spirit animal. I try to go to boxing class several times a week. I love the forest. My happy place is on the side of a mountain surrounded by pine trees. Writing music is how I figure out what emotions I’m feeling because I’d be clueless without that. Chips and Guac or a lavender latte can solve 90% of life’s problems. Dancing is the best therapy. I think it’s impossible to blast some music without dancing to it and feeling happy.
What first inspired you to get involved in the music industry?
I’ve always loved music. I took classical piano lessons as a kid and I’d always get in trouble for playing Bach the way I wanted to rather than what was on the page. My piano teacher would get so frustrated at that and I can still picture her yelling “ someday you can write your own songs, but right now you have to play whats on this page!” I was kind of like, “fine, I just write my own songs then,” and I never really stopped. Throughout high school I would play songs I was writing on my acoustic guitar at local coffee shops and venues. From there I decided to go to Belmont University in Nashville TN and double majored in Music Business and Songwriting. During that time I mostly wrote and played around with different sounds on Logic in my bedroom until I figured out what I wanted my music to sound like. The week after I graduated I released the Nightfires EP and launched the RYNN project.
Last month, you released your new single, “In My Head.” Can you tell us about this track? What inspired it?
This track follows the story line of what came after the inspiration for my song “Tokyo.” If you haven’t heard “Tokyo” it’s about my journey of having a mental breakdown on a trip to Tokyo. I realized I had to hit rock bottom and let so many things go in order to rebuild myself in a stronger way. Right after I got back form Tokyo, I met someone who I had an instant connection with. I knew I was falling way too hard way to fast, especially because I was still in such a fragile emotional state. I never really articulated the extent of the feelings I had for this person and it was tough because we lived in different states. I was using the idea of this relationship to put myself back together and definitely glorified in my head what was going on in reality. That being said, some of the moments we shared were some of the best times in my life. At the end of the summer he started dating someone else and that crushed me. This song is me reflecting on and looking back on the time we spent together and trying to figure out what was reality vs. what i glorified.
How do you feel you’ve grown with “In My Head” since the release of your debut EP, Nightfires?
I’ve definitely gained more confidence and went in to these new singles with more purpose. When I released the Nightfires EP, I had no clue if even one person would listen to or like the songs. I originally wanted to primarily be a songwriter and so I used that EP as a way to get polished, finished songs to showcase my writing. Soon after, my song “Islands” started getting playlisted on Spotify and gaining more traction. I was like, “wow, I guess the artist project is something that I actually can do!” Since then, I’ve been working on these next batch of songs!
“In My Head” follows “Tokyo,” which you released earlier this year as well! With these new songs out, is it safe for fans to assume there’s more on the way? Do you have any plans for an EP or album soon?
Yes! I have one more song coming out this year and then an EP early in the new year!
Do you have any goals for your new music or the rest of 2018?
I’d love to start playing more shows! I have my first show with this project December 12th, and definitely hope to do more of that throughout the new year!
Do you have any other big plans coming up?
I have a music video coming out for “In My Head” within the next month or so! It’s going to be a collaboration between myself and the company Z Shoes. We’re going to San Francisco to shoot it next weekend and I’m so excited!
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